subpoena
See also: subpœna
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
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First attested with this spelling in 1623 C.E., from earlier subpena, from Middle English sub pena, from Medieval Latin: sub (“under”) and poena (“penalty”), the beginning of the original subpoena used in the Court of Chancery.
Pronunciation
Noun
subpoena (plural subpoenas or subpoenae or subpoenæ)
- (law, historical) A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim.
- 1874, W.S. Gilbert, Trial by Jury
- Summoned by a stern subpoena Edwin sued by Angelina Shortly will appear.
- 1874, W.S. Gilbert, Trial by Jury
- (law) A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.
Usage notes
The most common plural form is subpoenas. Subpoenae is a hypercorrection as the word is not derived from a Latin noun *subpœna, *subpœnæ, but from the Latin phrase sub pœna, and therefore has no Latin plural.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony
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Verb
subpoena (third-person singular simple present subpoenas, present participle subpoenaing, simple past and past participle subpoenaed)
- (transitive) To summon with a subpoena.
- 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 10, [1]
- Why not subpoena as well the clerical proficients?
- 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 10, [1]
Translations
to summon with a subpoena
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See also
Anagrams
French
Alternative forms
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] English subpoena.
Pronunciation
Noun
subpoena m (plural subpoenas)
- (Canadian and US law) subpoena
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